You know that sick feeling you get when you lose your phone. What about if it gets stolen. In New York, you may have an easier time soon enough.

Smartphone theft has been a rising problem in many parts of the country, partly because of the devicesâ€™ high resale value. A top New York lawmaker thinks the solution is to go after the sellers who help make stealing phones so profitable.

The lawmaker, State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, a Bronx Democrat, is planning to introduce a bill on Friday that would make it illegal for any business in the state to buy or sell a used smartphone without proof of legitimate ownership.